Eight people arrested and over £30,000 in cash seized in drugs raids

Staffordshire Police carried out a number of raids this morning as part of a crackdown on the supply of the drug known as Monkey Dust.

A total of seven addresses were raided before 9am and large amounts of cash, suspected Monkey Dust, other drugs and stolen property were seized.

At an address on Bright Street in Meir, over £30,000 was found and seized by officers.

The operation, which took place across Stoke and Newcastle, is part of Staffordshire Police’s commitment to tackling the supply and distribution of the drug across the county.

Five men and one woman have been arrested on suspicion of drug offences. A 53-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent has been arrested on suspicion of money laundering and a 46-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent has been arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. They remain in custody.

Chief Superintendent Jeff Moore, Head of Neighbourhood and Partnerships, said: “Today’s warrants are a further step in our work to disrupt and impact on the supply and distribution of the drug known locally as Monkey Dust across Staffordshire.

“The long term solution will not be achieved by enforcement alone and there is a strong partnership led by the local authority now working together to tackle this issue head-on, reducing its impact on communities. Focused action has been taking place across Staffordshire with officers using stop and search powers to target those who they believe are connected in the use and supply.

“The Community Drug and Alcohol Service, commissioned by the Stoke-on-Trent City Council is also helping users to become more aware of the treatment facilities available and experts from Manchester Metropolitan University are helping to test and identify the substance so we can understand more about it.”